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ePaper created 2014-09-15, 12:31:02 | version 1.32.01
to be a rather common practice among certain immigrant groups, with sometimes harmful consequences, such as exogenous ochronosis, caused by hydroquinone.[4] He also recognized a distinct type of hypopigmentation, resembling yet distinct from pityriasis versicolor and pityriasis alba. Menke presented the clinical, histological and ultra-micros- copical picture of this entity at the EADV congress in 1993 in Copenhagen as a poster-presentation, and won the first prize for a novel entry. This pigmentary disorder, internatio- nally now called “progressive macular hypomelanosis”, is characterized by nummular confluent non-scaly hypopig- mented spots on the trunk. Research was continued in collaboration with Wiete Westerhof and Germaine Relyveld, aiming at unravelling the nature of this type of hypopigmen- tation. It appeared to be a frequently misdiagnosed worldwide disorder, common in adolescents and young adults, with a characteristic (but not pathognomonic) histological and electron-microscopical picture. The red fluorescence (under Wood’s light) in the follicles of the hypopigmented spots - that can be considered a pathognomonic sign of this disorder - corresponds with the presence of a subtype of propionibacterium acnes, probably the causative micro-organism. The best treatment to date is application of topical antibiotics together with UV light.[5-7] References 1. Niemel PL, Brunings EA, Menke HE. Attenuated yaws in Surinam. Br J Vener Dis 1979; 55: 99-101. 2. Menke HE, Veldkamp J, Brunings EA, et al. Comparison of cardiolipin and treponemal tests in the serodiagnosis of yaws. Br J Vener Dis 1979; 55: 102-4. 3. Menke HE. Sexually transmitted diseases in Surinam. Observations and thoughts. Br J Vener Dis 1978; 54: 215-7. 4. Menke HE. Pigment disorders and pigment manipulations. In: Ronald E Hall (ed),The Melanin Millenium; skin color as 21st century international discourse. Dordrecht, Heidelberg, New York, London: Springer 2012. Pages 183-205. 5. Westerhof W, Relyveld GN, Kingswijk MM, et al. Propionibacterium acnes and the pathogenesis of progressive macular hypomelanosis. Arch Dermatol 2004; 140: 210-4. 6. Relyveld GN, Menke HE, Westerhof W. Progressive macular hypomelanosis: an overview. Am J Clin Dermatol 2007; 8: 13-9. 7. Relyveld GN, Dingemans KP, Menke HE, et al. Ultrastructural findings in progressive macular hypomelanosis indicate decreased melanin production. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2008; 22: 568-74. 162 Progressive macular hypomelanosis on the trunk (courtesy Germaine Relyveld). BWEADVSMGFINCORR:Opmaak 1 21-07-2014 17:41 Pagina 162